Increased expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor in allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) of the gene for pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) (OMIM *172860) and PEDF protein and to localize the PEDF protein in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis and of control subjects.


METHODS
Investigation of PEDF mRNA and PEDF protein expression in the nasal mucosa using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining.


METHODS
We used inferior turbinate mucosal samples from 10 patients with allergic rhinitis and 10 matched healthy control subjects.


METHODS
We extracted PEDF mRNA from the inferior turbinate mucosa samples and performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. We used Western blotting to analyze differences in expression levels of PEDF protein between patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy controls, and the PEDF protein was localized immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
The expression levels of PEDF mRNA and PEDF protein in the nasal mucosa were significantly increased in patients with allergic rhinitis compared with those in nonallergic controls. The PEDF protein was expressed in the epithelium and submucosal glands.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that PEDF protein is expressed in the human nasal mucosa, and its expression is increased in allergic rhinitis. These results suggest a possible contribution of PEDF to the chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis.
Kang
Hee Joon
HJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 80 Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, Korea 152-703.
Park
Hyo-Hyun
HH
Chae
Sung Won
SW
Hwang
Soon Jae
SJ
Lee
Sang Hag
SH
Lee
Seung Hoon
SH
Lee
Heung-Man
HM
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor